Tips to Have a Functioning Garbage Disposal

Oct 02, 2015

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As the fall season approaches and people's thoughts turn to cooking,
the family garbage disposal can be given quite a workout. However, it
is during these times that many people begin to take their
disposal for granted.

Because they believe practically anything can be put into a disposal without
fear of damaging it, people fail to realize that these machines can be
damaged just as easily as most other home appliances.

However, by using common sense and adhering to a few rules, a garbage disposal
can be kept in excellent working order for many years.

Moderation is the Key to Success

One of the biggest mistakes people make with their disposals is putting
too much in it at once. Since home disposals are not as tough as industrial-grade
models, it can be very easy to clog their drain pipes.

This usually happens when a refrigerator is cleaned out and too much food
is put into the disposal at once. For this problem, a plumber will need
to be called to unclog the pipes and ensure the disposal's blades
and motor are still working well.

Don't Combine Garbage Disposals and Septic Systems

Some people choose to put your Austin home garbage disposals on their septic
systems, which is not allowed by most plumbing codes and can lead to numerous
problems for a home's plumbing system. In some older homes, a disposal
may already be installed to work with the septic system.

If this is found to be the case, a plumber should be contacted to overhaul
the home's plumbing system so that the garbage disposal and septic
system are separate from one another.

Otherwise, each time the disposal is used, it will pump garbage into the
septic tank, leading it to fill up quicker and needing to be pumped more often.

No Fiber in the Disposal

One of the most common problems plumbers find with your Austin home garbage
disposals is too much fibrous foods being put into the disposal.

When items such as corn husks, onion skins, potato peelings, and celery
stalks are put into the machine, they can become tangled in the disposal's
blades and also clog the drain.

If left unchecked, they can eventually seriously damage the disposal's
motor, which may lead to a new machine needing to be purchased and installed.

In addition, the potato peelings may also turn into a thick paste while
being ground up and cause the blades to stick.